Lubricating device.



Patented May 21, 1912.

ARTHUR J. WEST, OF SOUTH. BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUBRICATING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed J'uly 12, 1911. Serial No. 638,131.

' tion for carrying oil ,to engine crank pins in force feed lubricatingsystems. f The-purposeof the invention is to secure such a connectionwhich shall be oil tight at ordinary pressures, which shall permitsatisfactory act-ion even when. the parts are not perfectly alined andwhich shall be readily disconnected for inspection and repair.

' The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing,

in which Figure 1 is a View, partly sectional, of a crank showing myconnection applied, the section being taken on the center line of theshaft and crank; and Fig. 2 is an'enlarged sectional view of theconnecting tube and the retaining means. j

the drawing, 1 represents a main engine bearing, 2' the main shaft, 3the crank disk,4 the crank pin and 5 the end of the connecting rod.These parts are of any usual construction. V

"Formed in the crank pin, crank disk and shaft is a duct 6 provided withbranch ducts 7 bywhich oil is conveyed to the crank pin bearing, mainbearing, etc., the number and arrangement of the ducts being such as tolubricate all bearings which may be lubricated from the main shaft.

The crank pin cap 8 is retained on the crank pin by studs and nuts 9 andis pr0- vided with a radial arm 10 extending inwardly to a point on theaxis of the main shaft 2. This arm has a duct 11 connecting 45. with theduct 6 and merging at the end of the arm 10 into a spherical recess 12.

Mounted on a standard 13 rigidly con- 1 nected to the engine base orsetting is a bracket 14: in which is guided a plunger 15 having ashoulder 16. A helical spring 17 is interposed between the shoulder 16and a portion of the bracket 14to urge the plunger, which is coaxialwith the main engine shaft 2, toward that shaft.

An oil duct 18 isformed in the plunger 15 and to one end of this isattached the oil supply pipe 19 so that in effect this plunger becomesthe end port-ion of the oil pipe. The other end of the duct is at theend of the-plunger toward the engine shaft -and merges into a sphericalrecess 20 coaxial with the engine shaft. A connecting tube 21 havingspherical ends 22 is inserted between the arm 10 and the plunger 15, thespherical ends bearing in and making close contact with the recesses 12and 20. The spring 17 maintains such close contact at the points ofjuncture of the connecting tube with the plunger and arm as practicallyto prevent leakage of the oil and the spherical ends on the connectingtube permit relative movement of the engine shaft and standard. 011forced by a pump or otherwise flows through the pipe 19, duct 18,connecting tube 21 to the duct 11 of the arm whence it is distributed bythe ducts 6 and ,7 to the various bearings. The connecting tube 21 maybe removed readily, by forcing back the plunger 15. The connectionrequires no packmg or adjustment, the spring plunger making up the wearautomatically, and preserving oil tight contact. I

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to any shaft whetherhaving a crank or not, and that it will operate satisfactorily eventhough the various parts are not accurately alined- Accurate adjustmentis, however, desirable as reducing the wear.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 4 1. In alubricating device for crank shafts, the combination .of a'crank shafthaving a duct extending therefrom and terminating in alinement with itsaxis; an oil feed pipe; a spring serving to urge said pipe toward themouth of the duct; and a removable hollow coupling or member interposedbetween the discharge end of the pipe and the'mouth of the duct andforming ,a conduit for the lubricant.

2. In a lubricating device for crank shafts, the combination of a crankshaft having a duct extending therefrom and termmatmg in alinement withits axis; an oil feed pipe; a spring serving to urge said pipe towardthe mouth of the duct; and a tubular connection having spherical endbearing portions coacting with the discharge end of the pipe and theinlet openings of the duct to form tight joints.

3.91119, lubricating (1917106, the comb nationofaarotating elementhaving a'spherlcal recess located adjacent the axis of rotation and aduct communicating therewith; a fixed element; a plunger guided by thefixed element and having a spherical recess approximately coaxial withthe rotating element and a duct communicating with the recess; a springurging the plunger toward. the rotating element; and a tubularconnecting element communicating at its ends with the above named ductsand formed at its ends with spherical bearings closely fitting in saidrecesses and retainedtherein by the pressure of the spring exertedthrough the plunger.

4:. In a lubricatingdevice, the combination of a shaft; a. crank andcrank pin carried thereby, the above enumerated parts be ing providedwith suitable oil ducts 'a-crank pin cap formed Withan inwardlyextending arm having a duct communicating with the said oil ducts'andmerging into a spherical recess adjacent the axis of rotation of theshaft; a'fixed member; a plunger guided by said member and provided withan oil duct merging into a spherical recess approximately on the axis ofrotation of the shaft; a spring urging the plungertoward the arm;

' and a tubular member connecting the oil duct in the plunger with thosein the shaft and crank, the said member having ends making close fitswith the recesses and being position by the pressure of the plungerguided by said member and pro vided with an oil duct merging into aspherical recess approximately on the axis of rotation of the shaft; aspring urging the plun-,

ger toward the arm; and a tubular member connecting the oil duct in theplunger with those in the shaft and crank, the said member having endsmaking close fits with the recesses and being held in position by thepressure of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR J. WEST. I

Witnesses:

B. A. BRENNAN, J. E. PIOKARD.

